Terra Nova coach Bill Gray on playing a West Catholic Athletic League school (Valley Christian) in opening round despite being the No. 1 seed: “As I always say, our goal is to win the league title and whatever happens after that we’ll deal with it. After the last two years, with our experiences with Bellarmine, the first year we didn’t handle it very well, the second year we did quite a bit better. Of those three teams that have gotten pushed into the Open, this is certainly the best by far. We’re healthy, and we’re heading into it very confident. Very confident.”

Valley Christian coach Mike Machado on his star running back, Kirk Johnson, being injured again: “Against St. Francis (two weeks ago), he reached out for the pylon and got hit at the same time and tore ligaments in his shoulder. He’s obviously a key player for us and is a big-time back.” Machado added that the family is looking into the possibility of surgery. “They are discussing all that stuff now,” Machado said. “He is seeing doctors. His dad is a former NFL player, so he knows a lot of people in the business.”

Machado on Terra Nova: “I know that they put points on the board. They execute their offense well. They have big-play potential, and they’ve done a good job defensively.”

Machado on the bylaw that prevents league opponents from playing each other in the first round: “That’s the way it was supposed to be. That’s the way it’s always been until we had this problem with everybody trying to force as many WCAL teams as you can up in the Open and then once you had five, you had a problem. I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, and everybody’s going to have a different opinion on it — and most of them are going to be against the WCAL, which I understand. I really do. But the fact of the matter is I don’t think any team in the CCS would like to see a league opponent in the first round of the playoffs. I don’t think any of them would deny that.”

Wilcox coach Dan Brown on playing at home against Bellarmine in the first round: “We’re excited. It’s nice for the seniors to get a home game. It’s nice to earn that position. We believe it’s a special team. It’s a special group of kids from the neighborhood, and they want to be challenged at the utmost level. That’s where it’s taken us.”

Bellarmine coach Mike Janda on his team’s uneven season: “We’ve had our ups and downs, there is no doubt about it. I hope we can go on and get on an upside for a while. We’ve definitely had our ups and downs.”

Serra coach Patrick Walsh on the CCS power points system: “I like how the CCS seeds their division. There is no drama on this day. It’s points, and objective. There is no subjective drama. It is what it is.”

Walsh on getting to host an Open Division home game: “It’s the first time we’ve had a home game in the Open Division. It’s always nice to come out of your own locker room.”

Walsh on why he likes the bylaw that prevents league opponents from playing in the first round: “The playoffs are kind of built to play other teams from around the section. There are a lot of teams in our section. (In a previous system), we’ve actually played Bellarmine in Week 10 and then Week 11.”

Leland coach Jake Shaughnessy on playing host to Palo Alto in opening round of Division II: “I think Palo Alto is terrific. They obviously have a Division I quarterback, potentially a pro guy down the road. Great coach. Veteran staff. They’ve been doing it for a long, long time, and they know what they’re doing. They’re very athletic and talented. We saw them two years ago in the Open. They’re a great team.”

No surprise that Palma got a home game – I think the school and the CCS like the opportunity to show off the brand-new Rabobank Stadium. This is a $7million dollar, 6k seat facility at Sherwood Park in Salinas and it is by far, the finest high school stadium anywhere in California. Even if you’re not a Mitty or Palma fan, come down for the game Friday nite and check out this jewel of a stadium.

WestSideSantaClara

I like how Coach Dan Brown says how the kids are from the neighborhood. This isn’t a team hand selected from various communities, like a wcaca team. This is a working class neighborhood where the homes were built for the peach orchard workers in the 50’s. At one point there was a gang that was created by the worker’s kids. They called VTV, vario tecatos ville. That roughly translates to the hood of the heroin junkies. It’s not that they were junkies but that they were crazy like a junkie. Friday night I hope to see some kids from the neighborhood come together like a bunch of wild and crazy guys!

Cmon Man

@WSSC

Way to show that Public School class there…wcaca? Really?

Cmon Man

Oh and just FYI…neighborhood in Spanish is barrio, not vario

TigerPride

Will be interesting to see how the public schools do in the open this year. TN offense is explosive (more this year in years past) but they have had explosive offenses last 2 years with 2 blowout losses to Bellarmine to show for it. WCAL league is far and away better than any other league in CCS but I think TN and Wilcox can make some noise in the open this year!

3nOut

TN will get to the second round. Their dreams will die there….

WestSideSantaClara

@Cmon Man
You think I didn’t know that? haha they use a V not a B. BUt you’re such a square and have no idea how the streets of Cali work. That’s probably why your sheltered academia arss voted for Obama because the media and all your liberal professors made you feel guilty for being white. haha Point is this little neighborhood produces better athletes than your 50 mile radius of yuppies. see you on friday sucka!

Cmon Man

@WSSC
You assume way too much. You have no idea what race I am, what neighborhood I grew up in or even whether I ever voted for Barack Hussein Obama. If you want to continue to spout off in a vulgar manner about things you know little about, that’s your call, but you will only be making yourself look even more foolish. Trying to sound street tough doesnt make you any more knowledgeable about HS athletics. I have no reason to disbelieve you when you say Wilcox has very good athletes, but the fact remains they have not been able to compete in football against the best of the WCAL for as long as I can remember, great athletes or not.

TigerPride

@3nout

Even with VC running back out still not a lock for TN to get out of first round… If they do they will have their hands full with Mitty (assuming they beat Palma which I think they will have no problem doing). Only thing I can say is that I think TN will be able to put up some points if their O-line can give Gordon some time against any team in the CCS. As a public school guy would love to see a Wilcox/TN championship game!

Cmon Man

TN will get a break in the first round because VC’s best player and RB is injured and likely out for the season. But the Warriors still have a great defense. It wont be a cake walk by any means.

Cmon Man

Tiger, you are correct not to overlook VC and Mitty. If TN puts up big points on either of those defenses they will have proven themselves legit in my book. Mitty has allowed more than 16 points only 1 time this season and VC is very stout as well. I have my doubts that Wilcox can defeat Bellarmine, even though the Bells have taken a step back this season. But if the Chargers do beat the Bells, they wont be able to best Serra in round 2.

TigerPride

C’mon Man- yes I agree will be interesting to see how TN offense does against the WCAL schools. I think their skill position players will match up well against anyone, the question is can they win in the trenches (question in almost any football game, lol). I think it makes things interesting that we all agree that TN and Wilcox have a fighting chance this year- something that really no public school has been given the past 2 years. Will be fun to see it all play out on the field!

Eric

Why are public schools with specific limited geographic enrollment ever compared to private schools? It’s all apples and oranges. It would be fun to play the better teams against each other after the season (and after the separate playoffs…) whenever one of the public schools happens gets the random event of enough great athletes at the same time

Old School

Well said Eric! Short and sweet.

LancerDad64

Regarding Kirk Johnson of Valley Christian. I don’t think it has been confirmed if he will play or not. The other running back Tre McCloud #8 is actually very good. I have seen the Valley Christian defense play and they’re very good! That Terra Nova/VC game will be extremely entertaining. I will be on Maxpreps keeping tabs on the score of that game. That game should be a lot of fun.. ENJOY

3nOut

@LancerDad64. If VC could pass they could be competitive without Johnson. Unfortunately they have about the worst passing offense in the CCS IMHO. Talented receivers but…….

PrepFan90

VC ‘s offense is to run. They need to score faster than TN. If TN is up by two scores, VC will have a tough time to stage a comeback.

@WSSC, don’t speak for everyone else about working class. Many hard working class families in WCAL. From single parents working two jobs to keep their kids in private school to parents sacrificing their time to do volunteer work to be more involved with their kids activities. I am a proud school graduate who played sports with the kids I grew up with in my neighborhood. Had a great time. Played against WCAL teams. We won a few we lost a few. A great time nevertheless.

LancerDad64

I have seen the Valley Christian defense shut down K.J. Carta-Samuels and the Bellarmine Bells to just 13 points. I have seen them limit Mitty and SF to just 14 points IN EACH game. They have a very aggressive defense and this will be a very interesting game. Terra Nova’s offensive line better be on point if they hope to score against this swarming defense. This game will be a lot of fun.

Cmon Man

@3nout

I don’t necessarily agree that VC’s passing is the worst in CCS. They struggled against top notch WCAL defenses, but that doesn’t mean they are worse than the likes of B and C league teams. I’m not convinced TN has faced an offense as good as VC’s all season, even with no Johnson.

@Lancerdad

I don’t know about you but torn ligaments in the shoulder doesn’t sound too good to me. The kid may try to play but it’s highly doubtful he could be anything close to 100%.

DeAnza

No WCAL team runs an Offense like TN, it’ll be a shocker, and TN has shown that they can put up points, quickly, on everyone.
Their O is like Oregon, and if you haven’t seen it before, tough to adjust in real time during the game.

Cmon Man

@De Anza

Fair point. But TN has not faced a defense as talented and well-coached as VC. They will see a lot more pressure than they are used to, I’m pretty sure. It will indeed be interesting to see which team imposes its will on the other.

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